Growth regulators and mowing heights enhance the morphological and physiological performance of Seaspray turfgrass during drought conditions

Elansary, Hosam O.; Yessoufou, Kowiyou

Growth regulators and mowing heights enhance the morphological and physiological performance of Seaspray turfgrass during drought conditions

2015

Elansary, Hosam O. | Yessoufou, Kowiyou

With the unusually prolonged drought that results from climate change, increasing the ability of plants to resist drought become a necessity. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of two plant growth regulators [(trinexapac-ethyl (TE) and abscisic acid (ABA)], three mowing heights (MH) (25, 35 and 45 mm), and four irrigation levels of 30, 50, 70, and 100 % of the daily evapotranspiration (ET) on the turf performance of seashore paspalum [Paspalum vaginatum (Swartz)] grown in PVC container under greenhouse conditions. After 10 weeks of water regimes and MHs initiation, the application of TE/ABA increased turf quality (TQ), leaf photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), maximum root length (MRL) and dry weight (RDW), total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), and Ca and K contents but reduced ET under drought conditions. Increasing MH increased TQ, ET, Fv/Fm, MRL, RDW, TNC, and proline as well as leaves K and Ca under drought conditions. The co-application of TE/ABA and higher MH will significantly alleviate the negative effects of drought and maintain acceptable quality in Seaspray at 50 % ET. Osmotic adjustment, the accumulation of carbohydrates and protective effects of TE/ABA on photosynthetic efficiency play a major role in drought resistance in ‘Seaspray’.

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